FIG CROSTATA – – For the Pastry – Pasta Frolla: plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, unsalted butter (at room temperature, 105g), large eggs (at room temperature, separated), ½vanilla sugar, Pinch of fine sea salt, Zest of 1 lemon (minced), For the Figs:: green or black figs (hard stems trimmed, 750g), vanilla sugar, to 3honey, To make the pastry, place the flour on a work surface, make a well, and add the butter, the egg yolks, the sugar, the salt, and the lemon zest. Using your finger tips, mix these ingredients until they are thoroughly combined, then incorporate the flour by bringing it into the center with your fingers and gently mixing it with the wet ingredients. When you have crumbly but cohesive dough, form it into a round and let it sit, covered, at room temperature for 30 minutes.; Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).; Divide the pastry into two-thirds and one-third. Refrigerate the smaller piece while you roll out the larger piece on a well-floured surface into a round that measures about 10-inches (21.5cm). If the dough is too soft to roll out, you may press it into a 9-1/2 inch, removable bottom tart pan, pressing it halfway up the sides.; Cut 4 of the largest figs into rounds that are slighter thinner than ¼ of an inch and lay these in an even layer on the pastry. Sprinkle them with the 2 tablespoons of sugar. Quarter the remaining figs and arrange them in an attractive pattern atop the rounds of fig.; Roll out the smaller piece of pastry on a well-floured surface into about an 8-inch round, and cut the pastry into 14 strips of equal width. Working carefully because the pastry is tender, lay 7 strips atop the figs in one direction, leaving space between them, then 7 strips in the other direction, to create a criss-cross pattern. Don’t be concerned if you have to do some “mending” when the strips break, which they probably will. The mends will bake out.; Drizzle 1 tablespoon of honey over the tart, transfer the pan to a baking sheet and bake in the center of the oven until the pastry is golden and baked through, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven, drizzle with 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey and let cool.; – [/wpurp-searchable-recipe]
Chambres de Bonne
My thoughts lately have been about chambres de bonne, those